The family of missing Westminster police officer Gordon Semple believe that the human remains found in flats in Southwark are his.

Police investigating the disappearance of the 59-year-old have yet to formally identify the body, reportedly found dismembered and decomposed at the property at Peacock Estate on Southwark Street on April 7, but believe it to be the missing police officer .

The family statement, written on a Facebook appeal page by his brother Ronnie, came as neighbours living on Peabody Estate who alerted police described a “terrible smell” coming from a flat where human remains were found.

One neighbour claimed the suspect answered his door wearing nothing but Speedos and a pair of glasses when residents knocked to complain about the odour.

'It has been a terrible time for us all'

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The family statement on Facebook read: “On behalf of Gordon’s partner Gary, my wife Maureen, Gordon’s nephew Paul, niece Kerry and I, I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts during the past dreadful week. It has been a terrible time for us all, especially Gary.

“Gordon will be sadly missed by all of his immediate family, his colleagues in the Met Police, former Bank of Scotland colleagues in Inverness & London, Friends from his Tartan Army Days, but most of all the hardest loss is for Gary at this time.

“Gordon was a much loved Partner, Brother, Brother-in-Law, Uncle & Cousin and our world will be a worse place without him.

The Facebook post from PC Gordon Semple's brother Ronnie

“It would be appreciated if the family is given time to grieve privately.”

Earlier on April 8 Commander Alison Newcomb had stood on the steps of New Scotland Yard and described the discovery as a “significant development” in their search for PC Semple, and a sad day for his colleagues.

Speedos and a pair of glasses

Neighbours have also been speaking about the discovery. Martin Harris, 49, said: “My brother complained about a smell on Tuesday and asked me to go and complain.

“I banged on the door and a man answered wearing Speedos and a pair of glasses.

“I asked what as going on and he said he was cooking for a mate.

Photos of PC Gordon Semple were posted on a Facebook appeal page set up after his disappearance

“I said I was going to call the police but he didn’t seem worried about it. He didn’t seem bothered and shut the door.”

Heather Brown, 55, said her neighbour had noticed a “terrible smell”. She said the neighbour and his brother had confronted the owner of the flat after becoming aware of the stench.

She said: “They just smelled this horrible smell, really.

“He just knocked on the door, and he said he was just cooking.”

A CCTV still showing the last known sighting of missing police officer Gordon Semple

She also said police had sealed off all the rubbish chutes in the estate, she added.

A 49-year-old man arrested by homicide police at the address is being questioned by police.

PC Semple had not been seen since April 1. Concerned police appealed for his whereabouts and released CCTV images of showing his last known sightings .